Swimming appliance



L. c. CHATHAM SWIMMING APPLIANCE Filed Dec. 24 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

ATRNY SWIMMING APPLIANCE Filed Dec. 24, 1923 2 Shuts-Spam. 2

IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Nov. 4, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICZE.

SWIMMING ani cs.

Application filed. December 24, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lonis C. CHATHAM,

a citizen of the United States, residing at San Diego, in the county of San Diego and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Swimming Appliances, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in swimming appliances and has relation more particularly to a device of this general character especially designed and adapted for use by children and it is an object of the invention to provide an appliance of this kind having novel and improved means whereby uniform buoyancy is provided preventing the wearer from getting on his back or stomach and not be able to get out of that position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device of this general character wherein the buoyancy is practically equal all the way around the 5 body with increased buoyancy over the shoulders to hold the head up orout of the water.

Furthermore it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character while particularly adapted for a swimming appliance yet may be used to advantage as a life preserver.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved swimming appliance whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, is will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better iuiderstood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a view in perspective looking from the front of an appliance or preserver constructed in accordance .with an embodiment of my invention and in applied position;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of one of Serial No. 682,479.

trating an appliance or preserver construct ed in accordance with a further embodiment of my lDVGIllZlOIl;

Figure 8 IS a view 111 plan of the holding member as comprised in the second form of my invention.

is disclosed in the accompanying drawbig-s1 denotes a waist encircling inflatable body provided at its opposite ends with the extensions or tabs 2, the extensions or tabs shave the eyelets 3 in which is associated a connecting member 4- (Figuie 6), whereby the member 1 may be applied or removed with convenience and facility and maintained in eifec-tive position.

The member 1 may be employed as desired independently or separately from any associated structure but, as is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is preferred that the shoulder members 5 be employed. Each. of the members 5 constitutes an inflatable body preferably circular, through which an arm is adapted to be inserted so that the member may be disposed over a shoulder of the wearer. The lower portion of the member 5, when the device is in working position, is provided with an outstanding radially disposed tab 6 provided. with a pair of longitudinally spaced openings 7. These openings 7 are positioned above and below the associated member 1 so that a lacing cord 8 or the like may be readily and conveniently threaded therethrough for con necting the member 5 with the member 1.

Each of the members 5 is also provided at the side portions thereof with the inward- 1y directed tabs 9 having the eyelets 10. The lacing cords 11 or the like are adapted to be threaded throug corresponding tabs 9 of both of the mem ers 5 and across the front and back of the body of the wearer whereby the members 5 are effectively maintained in applied position.

It is to be understood that if preferred, the members 5 may be employed independently of the member 1. The membersl and 5 are each covered with a fabric lamination as 12 in Figure 3 to prevent the inflatable body member from stretching beyond a certain size.

In the embodiment of my invention as illustrated in Figure 7, the inflatable member let is adapted to be disposed around the waist of the body of the wearer and crossed in the front and passed over the shoulders of the wearer, the return portions of the member 14 at the back,as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 7, being arranged side by side so that a boot 15 or the like may be directed therearound, said boot being held in Working position by a suitable lacing threaded through the eyelets 16 produced in the end marginal portions of the boot 15.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a swimming appliance constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

1. A device of the class described comprising an inflatable waist encircling member,

inflatable shoulder encircling members, each of said shoulder encircling members belng circular and provided with an outstanding tab over which the waist encircling member is adapted to lie when the shoulder encircling members and waist encircling member are in applied position, said tab being pro vided with openings spaced apart to position the waist encircling member therebetween, and a flexible member adapted to be threaded through said openings and disposed over the waist encircling member to attach said waist encircling member to a shoulder encircling member.

2. A device of the class described comprising an inflatable waist encircling member, inflatable shoulder encircling members,

each of said shoulder encircling members being circular and provided with an outstanding tab over which the waist encircling member is adapted to lie when the shoulder encircling members and waist encircling member are in applied position, said tab being provided with openings spaced apart to position the waist encircling member therebetween, a flexible member adapted to be threaded through said openings and disposed over the waist encircling member to attach said waist encircling member to a shoulder encircling member, each of the shoulder encircling members at opposite sides thereof being provided with a pair of inwardly directed tabs. one of said pairs being disposed in front of the body and the second pair to the rear of the body when the device is in applied position, and flexible members adapted to be disposed in front and at the rear of the body and threaded through said. tabs of the shoulder encircling members to hold said shoulder encircling members against separating movement.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

LOUIS O. CHATHAM. 

